CERVICAL ECTROPION (CERVICAL EROSION)

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CERVICAL ECTROPION (CERVICAL EROSION)

Cervical ectropion is a condition where cells from inside the cervix form a red, inflamed patch on the outside the cervix.

Cervical ectropion is a condition in which there is a raw-looking area on the cervix.

Cervical ectropion happens when cells from inside the cervical canal grow onto the outside of the cervix. These cells are called glandular cells. Glandular cells are red, so the area may look red. Cervical ectropion is sometimes called cervical erosion or cervical ectopy.

This is a benign (non-cancerous) condition and does not lead to cervical cancer.

The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus. It is composed of two regions; the ectocervix and the endocervical canal.

Endocervical canal (endocervix) – the more proximal, and ‘inner’ part of the cervix. It is lined by a mucus-secreting simple columnar epithelium.
Ectocervix – the part of the cervix that projects into the vagina. It is normally lined by stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium. A cervical ectropion is the presence of everted endocervical columnar epithelium on the ectocervix. This change is thought to be induced by high levels of oestrogen and does not represent metaplasia.

Etiology

The most common cause of a Cervical Ectopy is hormonal changes. Women who are taking oral contraceptives often have cervical ectopy. This is thought to be a response to high levels of oestrogen in the body. The cells which line the inside surface of the cervix often travel and sit on the exterior surface of the cervix. This can be seen when examination with a speculum is performed.

It is thought that cervical ectropion is induced by high levels of oestrogen. Therefore, factors that increase the risk of ectropion are related to those that increase levels of oestrogen:

Use of the combined oral contraceptive pill
Pregnancy
Adolescence
Menstruating age (it is uncommon in postmenopausal women)

Clinical Features of Cervical Erosion

Cervical ectropion is most commonly asymptomatic. It can occasionally present with post-coital bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, or excessive discharge (non-purulent). On speculum examination, the everted columnar epithelium has a reddish appearance – usually arranged in a ring around the external os.

Unexpected Vaginal Bleeding: Cervical ectropion can lead to unexpected vaginal bleeding, which may occur spontaneously or be triggered by factors like sexual intercourse. The raw area on the cervix, exposed due to ectopy, is more susceptible to irritation and bleeding.
Spotting or Blood-Streaked Discharge: Women with cervical ectropion may experience spotting or a discharge with streaks of blood. This is a result of the fragile blood vessels in the exposed glandular cells, which can rupture easily, causing small amounts of bleeding.
Common Occurrence During or After Sexual Intercourse: Bleeding is often associated with sexual intercourse. The friction and pressure exerted during penetration can irritate the raw area on the cervix, leading to bleeding. This may not happen every time but can be a recurring issue for some women.
Association with Vaginal Infections (Thrush or Bacterial Vaginosis): Presence of vaginal infections such as thrush or bacterial vaginosis can exacerbate the symptoms of cervical ectropion. These infections cause additional irritation to the already sensitive area, leading to increased risk of bleeding.
Possibility of Asymptomatic Cases: Some women may have cervical ectropion without experiencing noticeable symptoms. The condition may only be identified during routine examinations, such as Pap smears.

Investigations of Cervical Erosion.

Cervical erosion/ectropion is diagnosed through a clinical examination. The main role of any investigation is to exclude other potential diagnoses:

Pregnancy test: To rule out pregnancy as a cause of cervical erosion
Triple swabs – if there is any suggestion of infection (such as purulent discharge), endocervical and high vaginal swabs should be taken. (A triple swab refers to the collection of three separate swab samples from different areas of the reproductive system during a medical examination)
Cervical smear – to rule out cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. If a frank lesion is observed, a biopsy should be taken (note that biopsies are not performed as routine).

Management of Cervical Erosion

Cervical ectropion is not a harmful condition and does not usually require treatment unless symptomatic.

First-line treatment is to stop any oestrogen-containing medications – most commonly the combined oral contraceptive pill. This is effective in the majority of cases.
If symptoms persist, the columnar epithelium can be ablated, using cryotherapy or electrocautery. This will result in significant vaginal discharge until healing is completed.
Medication to acidify the vaginal pH has been suggested, such as boric acid pessaries.
Mostly cervical erosion is present in women who do not have any symptoms and thus no specific treatment is advised.

There are three different versions of cauterization therapy:

Diathermy: This uses heat to cauterize the affected area.
Cryotherapy: This uses very cold carbon dioxide to freeze the affected area. A 2016 Study found this to be an effective treatment for women with cervical ectropion who were experiencing a lot of discharge.
Silver nitrate: This is another way to cauterize the glandular cells.

After the treatment, the doctor may recommend that a woman avoids sexual activity and using tampons for up to 4 weeks. After this time, her cervix should have healed.

If a woman experiences any of the following after the treatment, she should go back to the doctor:

Discharge that smells bad
Heavy bleeding (more than a average period)
Ongoing bleeding

CERVICAL POLYPS

Cervical polyps are benign growths protruding from the inner surface of the cervix.

They are benign tumours arising from the endocervical epithelium and may be seen as smooth reddish protrusion in the cervix.

They are usually asymptomatic, but a very small minority can undergo malignant change. They are estimated to be present in 2-5% of women.

Types of Cervical Polyps

Ectocervical Polyps:

Location: Ectocervical polyps originate from the outer surface of the cervix, protruding into the vaginal canal.
Characteristics: These polyps typically emerge from the stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium of the ectocervix. Due to their external location, they are readily visible during routine gynecological examinations.
Appearance: Ectocervical polyps often present as finger-like or grape-like growths extending from the cervix. Their appearance may vary in size, and they are usually distinguishable by their pedunculated or stalk-like structure.
Symptoms: While ectocervical polyps are frequently asymptomatic, they can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding, spotting, or post-coital bleeding when symptoms are present. Their visibility facilitates diagnosis during speculum examinations.

Endocervical Polyps:

Location: Endocervical polyps develop within the endocervical canal, the more proximal and inner part of the cervix.
Characteristics: These polyps arise from the mucus-secreting simple columnar epithelium lining the endocervical canal. Unlike ectocervical polyps, their location within the canal makes them less visible during routine examinations.
Appearance: Endocervical polyps are less noticeable externally but may be detected through imaging techniques like ultrasound or hysteroscopy. They may obstruct the cervical canal, leading to symptoms like infertility or irregular bleeding.
Symptoms: Similar to ectocervical polyps, endocervical polyps may cause abnormal bleeding or spotting. However, their impact on fertility or interference with cervical smears may be more pronounced due to their location.

Clinical Features of Cervical Polyps

Often asymptomatic, identified only through routine cervical screening.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding:

Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding)
Intermenstrual bleeding (bleeding between periods)
Post-coital bleeding (bleeding after sex)
Post-menopausal bleeding
Increased vaginal discharge
Rarely, large polyps can block the cervical canal, causing infertility.
On speculum examination, cervical polyps are usually visible as polypoid growths projecting through the external os.

Aetiology

The aetiology of cervical polyps remains unknown. Some of the risk factors are:

Premenopausal women
Multigravida
Sexually transmitted infections
Previous history of cervical polyps
Chronic cervicitis.
Chronic inflammation
Abnormal response to oestrogen (cervical polyps are associated with endometrial hyperplasia)
Localized congestion of the cervical vasculature

Investigations

The definitive diagnosis for a cervical polyp is histological examination after its removal. Therefore, the main role of any other investigations is to exclude alternative causes of the symptoms:

Triple swabs – if there is any suggestion of infection (such as purulent discharge), endocervical and high vaginal swabs should be taken.
Cervical smear – to rule out cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Sometimes the polyp can prevent the smear being taken, in which case the smear should be repeated after the polyp has been removed.

Management

Cervical polyps have a small (less than 0.5%) risk of malignant transformation – and so it is common practice to remove them whenever they are identified (even if asymptomatic).
Polyps are easily removed in the doctor’s office, without anaesthesia.
They’re simply held and twisted off gently or taken off with polypectomy forceps or ring forceps. Any resulting bleeding can be cauterized with silver nitrite. They’re then sent to the laboratory to make sure that there’s no sign of cancer.
If the polyps is infected antibiotics may be prescribed.
Larger polyps, or those that are more difficult to access can be removed by diathermy loop excision in the colposcopy clinic, or under general anaesthesia if the base of the polyp is broad.
Any excised polyps should be sent for histological examination to exclude malignancy. They have a recurrence rate of 6-12%.